Your wisdom teeth are your third molars and are right at the back of the mouth. They are the last adult teeth to erupt, usually during the late teens or early 20s and can cause problems.
You can have up to four wisdom teeth, one on each side of the upper and lower jaws. However, some people have fewer, while others are born without wisdom teeth.
How to Tell If Your Wisdom Teeth Are Coming through
Various symptoms can indicate that your wisdom teeth are trying to erupt, which include the following.
- Swollen Gums
The gums nearest to the wisdom teeth can become swollen and tender, so you may find it difficult to chew food right at the back of your mouth.
- Jaw Pain
Another very common sign is noticing that the back of your jaw has begun to ache or feel sore. This is because the erupting wisdom teeth can put pressure on the jawbone and nearby teeth. The pain can increase as the teeth begin to erupt.
- Bad Breath or Nasty Taste
Sometimes wisdom teeth in Newcastle will partially erupt, remaining partly covered by gum tissue. Because they are located at the back of the mouth, they are more challenging to keep clean, and plaque and food debris can become trapped around them.
This can result in halitosis or bad breath, or a nasty taste if the gum covering the wisdom teeth becomes infected, or if the partially erupted wisdom tooth starts to decay.
- Problems Opening Your Jaws
When wisdom teeth in Clarington start to erupt, it can affect your ability to open your mouth comfortably. This can occur due to pressure in the jawbone or when the gums around the wisdom teeth become swollen.
- Overcrowding
Because wisdom teeth are the last to arrive, there is often insufficient room for them to erupt normally. Consequently, overcrowding can occur, where neighbouring teeth start to shift position.
How to Know for Sure If Your Wisdom Teeth Are Coming through
If you are a regular patient of West Bowmanville Family Dental and have yet to have your wisdom teeth removed, you can trust us to monitor their growth and development carefully.
Regular digital dental X-rays allow us to assess the position and angulation of your wisdom teeth and determine if they can erupt normally. We usually only recommend that they be removed if they cannot come through without causing problems.
If it has been a while since your last visit to the dentist, we recommend scheduling a dental exam appointment. We can soon assess if your wisdom teeth are causing problems and need removal.
When Must Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
There are several situations in which we may recommend removing wisdom teeth in Courtice.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Some wisdom teeth are impacted, where they are stuck underneath adjacent teeth. As a result, they may try to come through sideways, which can cause issues that lead to pain and infection.
Gum Disease and Tooth Decay
Wisdom teeth can be challenging to clean due to their location at the back of the mouth. Consequently, they are more likely to become decayed or infected, and gum disease can develop in the gum tissue around them.
If it is too tricky to keep them clean and they are causing oral health problems, it may be better to remove them.
Overcrowding
If you have a smaller jaw that cannot accommodate wisdom teeth comfortably, we may recommend their removal. If they do come through, it could lead to overcrowding, which can affect the alignment of your teeth and potentially cause orthodontic issues in the future.
Cysts
Rarely, a cyst can develop around a wisdom tooth. Removing the wisdom tooth and the cyst helps prevent further damage to the jawbone.
